The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
AGOA was extended for two years—now the real work begins
English Summary
While the two-year extension of AGOA preserves existing trade access, the article argues that true progress requires comprehensive modernization to build a mutually beneficial partnership. Key evidence highlights that stakeholders demand a long-term framework (10-15 years) that moves beyond simple tariff preferences to focus on investment, industrial development, and digital trade. Strategically, the U.S. must adapt AGOA to the digital economy and align its policies with Africa’s regional integration efforts, such as the AfCFTA, to maintain influence against growing competition from China and the EU.
中文摘要
儘管《非洲成長與機會法案》（AGOA）的兩年延長維持了現有的貿易准入，但本文認為，真正的進步需要進行全面的現代化，以建立一個互利共贏的夥伴關係。關鍵證據指出，利益相關者要求一個長期框架（10至15年），其重點應超越單純的關稅優惠，轉而聚焦於投資、產業發展和數位貿易。從戰略角度來看，美國必須將AGOA調整以適應數位經濟，並使其政策與非洲的區域整合努力（例如非洲大陸自由貿易區，AfCFTA）保持一致，才能在面對來自中國和歐盟日益增長的競爭時維持其影響力。
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